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Cathedral Architects Association

The Cathedral Architects Association exists to promote excellence in the care of cathedral buildings. The collegiate nature of the Association provides a unique knowledge base that is sustained by the free and generous exchange of ideas, expertise, and the experiences of its members both active and retired. Membership is open to those who are appointed under the Care of Cathedrals Measure to look after Anglican cathedrals within England. Invitations are also extended to the architects of cathedrals of other denominations and jurisdictions such as Roman Catholic cathedrals, cathedrals in Wales and Scotland and also further afield. We benefit from the contributions of our corresponding members who have a close connection with cathedral work, including archaeology, construction, engineering, environmental services and the conservation of fabric and contents. The Association engages with national and local bodies that have responsibility for cathedral matters, such as Historic England, the Association of English Cathedrals, and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. The Association periodically runs events with a specific focus on different aspects of cathedral work, such as masonry conservation, innovations in lighting, and training for future cathedral architects.

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Events:

The first National Cathedrals Conference takes place in Manchester from 17 to 20 September. Members are invited to attend and may bookhere. "Entitled 'Sacred Space: Common Ground', the conference will see over 400 delegates gathering over four days. It will be addressed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. It will be an opportunity for the Archbishops to voice their vision for the Church, and to help Cathedrals develop their important roles as places of gathering, inspiration, delight, education, challenge and debate."

Lost opportunity?Raising a new permanent Cathedral in Christ Church, New Zealand, has lost out to a reinstatement of the original (ACNS16 April 2018), See also: Thecardboard cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand, which remains a temporary structure but is now cited as being one of the principal reasons to visit the city. Architect Shigero Ban; completed 2013.

The Sagradia Familia, now being transformed into an "an entirely post-Gaudían creation", is now "no better or worse than a kitschy mosque in Qatar or a kitschy Mormon temple in Washington, DC" says David Cohn in The Architectural Review(2012)